Transfer tail winder



Oct. 4, 1966 J. R. PABIS TRANSFER TAIL WINDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 12, 1965 Oct. 4, 1966 J. R. PABlS 3,276,704

TRANSFER TAIL WINDER Filed, May 12, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 4, 1966 J R. PABIS TRANSFER TAIL WINDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 12, 1965 Lilli United States Patent 3,276,704 TRANSFER TAIL WINDER John Roosevelt Pabis, Wilmington, Del., assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 12, 1965, Ser. No. 455,187

' 8 Claims. (Cl. 242-18) facilitate tying to the outer end of yarn on an adjacent package when rewinding or otherwise processing yarn continuously, it is known to provide an initial wrap, in the form of a short helix, on the package support outside the package area. This wrap is commonly referred to as .a transfer tail.

Numerous devices are known for applying transfer tails at moderate winding speeds of up to several hundred yards per minute. However, in modern textile processing, particularly continuous spinning of synthetic yarns, there is a rapidly growing tendency toward winding speeds of several thousand yarns per minute. In addition, there is a trend toward winding a plurality of yarn lines simultaneously, each on a separate package support. At the slower processing speeds, a single yarn line may be manipulated and transfer tails for-med with relative ease by a skilled operator. Furthermore, semi-automatic tailwinding devices are in use. However, in the case of high speed processing and particularly with more than one yarn line, known semi-automatic devices either fail to operate acceptably or are prohibitively time consuming and wasteful of yarn. Furthermore, known devices rely almost exclusively for actuation on an increase in the tension level at a point relatively close to and immediately upstream of the yarn package support. From a practical standpoint, devices depending on these conditions are unsatisfactory in that they result in a length of substandard yarn which must be wound in a waste bunch and subsequently discarded. In a print roll 'windup of the type in which yarn advances around a drive roll to the driven package (e.g., see the disclosure of Hill et al. in US. Patent No. 3,092,339), any appreciable accumulation in a waste bunch has an adverse effect on initial package formation and accordingly cannot be tolerated. In general, attempts to modify known transfer tail devices for use in connection with high speed print roll windups have generally resulted in excessively complicated and cumbersome apparatus requiring high maintenance cost, a high degree of operators skill and a large operating force.

This invention has as its primary objective the formation of a controlled length of transfer tail in a single layer on a package support rotating at high speeds. It is a corollary objective to facilitate the handling of more than one yarn line simultaneously, quickly and automatically. A more specific purpose is to furnish a transfer tail-winding mechanism which is portable, compact, lightweight and adaptable for remote actuation.

These objectives have been accomplished with a transfer tail-winding mechanism adapted for use in a windup which includes a surface driven, tubular, package support provided with a stringup groove extending partially through its circumference outside the normal stroke of a self-threading, traverse guide through which yarn advances as a package is Wound. The tail-winding mecha- "ice nism includes an auxiliary guide through which yarn is advanced during stringup and as a tail is 'wound, means mounting the auxiliary guide for pivotal movement from its first or stringup position to a second position in which the advancing yarn is released to the self-threading traverse guide, a linkage connected to the auxiliary guide, a releasable latch normally in engagement with the linkage for holding the auxiliary guide in its first position and motive means coupled with that guide for moving it to the second position upon release of the latch. The linkage includes relatively movable, frictionally engaged parts interposed between the motive means and the auxiliary guide. When yarn first engages the stringup groove, it is running countercurrent to the package support and is accordingly snagged and snapped. Thereafter, the mechanism functions to wind a transfer tail of predetermined length which has the same physical properties as yarn in the package to which it leads.

Additional objectives and advantages will be apparent from the following specification wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic end view of a print roll windup into which one embodiment of the transfer tail mechanism of the present invention has been incorporated;

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic, fragmentary, plan view of the windup and transfer tail-winding mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the tailwinding mechanism per se;

FIG. 4 is a partially schematic, fragmentary, plan view of a print roll windup into which the preferred, manually operable embodiment of the transfer tail-winding mechanism has been incorporated; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the tailwinding mechanism shown in FIG. 4.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of the transfer tail-winding mechanism is shown in association with a print roll windup which includes a housed cam assembly 60 of the type disclosed by Altice et al. in US. Patent No. 3,074,286. It also includes cam-actuated, selfthreading, reciprocating, traverse guides 62, 63 through which yarns 36, 37 normally advance to a driven print roll 64 and thence to surface driven, tubular package supports 43, 44 telescoped on a freely rotatable chuck of the type disclosed by Hill et al. The illustrated windup is adapted for tandem operation and accordingly includes duplicate package supports 47, 48 print roll 49 and traverse guides 50, 51 on the opposite or left side of cam assembly 60. As described more fully hereinafter, transfer tails are wound on the package supports with auxiliary equipment including a tail-winding mechanism 1 and a portable remote controller 2 with which mechanism 1 is actuated. Tail winder 1 includes an elongated hollow housing 3 at one end of which a tapered stub shaft 4 is rigidly attached by an arm which fits between upstanding portions of a bracket 5 when winder 1 is positioned for a tail-winding sequence. Bracket 5 is rigidly mounted on the windup frame. Thus, shaft 4 serves not only as a convenient plug-in type holder but also as a pivot, about which the winder 1 may be swung into position for a left-hand tail-winding sequence. The winder 1 may be transported by an operator between windups by means of a hand grip 6 attached to the outside end of housing 3.

Integral with and extending perpendicularly from housing 3 are stationary stanchions 7, 70 on which are mounted pivotal, auxiliary yarn guides 8, 80. The latter are located and adapted for rightand left-hand tail-winding sequence, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 3, only one guide 8 and its ancillary components are shown and described below for simplicrecess 13. Slideably journaled between guideways incorporated into the stanchion 7 is a connecting rod 14. On one end of rod 14, there is attached a bearing pin which is slideably constrained in an open slot 16 set at an oblique angle in guide 8. The other end of rod 14 is equipped with a bearing pin 17 which is slideably constrained in an open cam groove 18 of a bracket 19. Bracket 19 is rigidly fastened by suitable threaded fasteners to an elongated bar 20 which is slideably supported in stationary guide ways 66 that are secured to housing 3. One end of slide bar 20 is provided with a sear 21 which is engaged by the retractable plunger 22 of a latching relay 23 which, in turn is mounted on housing 3. The other end of bar 20 is connected to one end of a tension spring 24 (FIG. 2) which is housed in a hollow chamber in hand grip 6. The other end of spring 24 is attached to a block 68 which can be moved to adjust the spring force. A lever 69 is attached to bar 20 and extends outwardly through a slot in housing 3 for manually resetting bar 20 to its ready or cocked position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, threadlines 36, 37 passing through pivotal guides 8 are not only beyond the longitudinal strokes of traverse guides 62, 63 but are also radially displaced from the paths of the traverse guides.

Latching relay 23 is electrically connected to a selfcontained power supply 25 (FIG. 2) that is composed of an arrangement of dry cell batteries. A miniature, commercially available, radio receiver 26 is appropriately mounted in the housing 3 adjacent power supply 25 and is interposed in the electrical circuitry so that upon receiving a radio signal of certain frequency, power from supply 25 is switched to relay 23 (FIG. 3).

Referring again to FIG. 2, portable controller 2 is shown adjacent yarn package supports 43 and 44. It comp-rises a molded housing 28 in which is mounted a miniature, commercially available, radio transmitter 27 having a built-in antenna. Transmitter 27 is electrically connected to a self-contained power supply 29 similar to the power supply 25 in housing 3. Spaced rnicroswitches 30 and 31 are mounted inside housing 28 and provided with actuator arms 32 and 33 which protrude externally through appropriate openings in the housing. The arms 32 and 33 are provided with ceramic coated yarn hooks 34 and 35 which function as second auxiliary yarn guides for yarn lines 36 and 37. Both switches are normally closed and are connected in series with a thumb switch 38 which is normally open so that transmitter 27 is not normally energized. A sucker gun 41 is provided for the purpose of advancing yarn lines 36, 37 through guides 8, under print roll 64 (FIG. 1) and through guides 34, 35, preparatory to stringup on package supports 43, 44. p

Refer-ring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, tapered stub shaft 4 and mounting bracket 5 are so constructed and arranged that shaft 4 must be fully seated in bracket 5 before tail winder 1 can be swung to its operating position i.e., the upstanding ear portions of bracket 5 are located to insure that winder 1 will be properly positioned with respect to stringup grooves 45, 46 on yarn supports 43, 44 when the winder is in operating position. As illustrated, grooves 45, 46 extend only partially through the circumferences of tubular supports 43, 44 and are located beyond the traverse stroke of self-threading guides 62, 63. In operation, the apparatus is brought into use after 'empty package supports have been telescoped on the windup chucks in preparation for starting new packages, lowered onto the drive roll and brought up to winding speed. For right-hand operation, tail-winding mechnism 1 is placed on the windup frame in bracket 5 and swung to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. By means of sucker gun 41 and a stringup tool, not shown, the operator separates the yarn lines coming through a guide 11, positions each yarn against a leading edge 40 and slidably introduces it into the associated recess 13. The yarns are then manipulated around print roll 64, being careful to avoid contact with either the traverse guides 62, 63 or the package supports 43, 44. Next, controller 2 is held above and adjacent the package supports and the individual yarn lines 36, 37 are introduced into guides 34, 35, respectively. Sucker gun 41 is held to the side in a manner to require yarn lines 36 and 37 to exert a force on guides 34 and 35 such that microswitches 30 and 31 are held open as a result of these forces. The yarn lines are now moving at equilibrium speed countercurrent to the motion of the surfaces of yarn supports 43 and 44 but not in contact with these surfaces. Thumb switch 38 is then depressed and controller 2 is moved to bring the yarn lines into contact with surfaces of package supports 43 and 44 and then moved axially so that the yarn lines simultaneously contact stringup grooves 45 and 46, respectively. When snagged in grooves 45 and 46, yarns 36, 37 are broken and snap free, thus relieving the pull on arms 32, 33 and closing switches 30, 31. This activates radio transmitter 27. The signal from transmitter 27 is picked up by receiver 26 which cuts in power supply 25 to latching relay 23. Plunger 22 of relay 23 retracts and releases bar 20. Brackets 19 move with bar 20 responsive to the action of spring 24 so that grooves 18 cause connecting rods 14 to slide at right angles to bar 20. Motion of rods 14, in turn, causes guides 8 to pivot at a controlled rate and to move yarn lines 36, 37 toward the package areas on the yarn supports. Thus, the linear motion of slide bar 20 is converted to the pivotal movement of guides 8. Near the end of the stroke of bar 20, guides 8 have pivoted sufficiently for the yarn lines to slip out of recesses 13, drop off guides 8 toward self-threading traverse guides 62, 63 and then take up their normal package-forming, traversing motion.

During the time that guides 8 are being rotated, a helix of yarn is wound on each package support, axially spaced from the main package location. This winding takes place only while the auxiliary guide is in motion and is formed in a single layer. The length of these transfer tails depends not only on the force exerted by spring 24 but also on the frictional drag and inertia of the system which rotates guides 8. Relatively movable parts such as connecting rod 14, bracket 19, slide bar 20 and guide ways 66 are frictionally engaged in such a manner as to retard and regulate pivotal movement of guides 8. Since yarn velocity and therefore tension is continuously under control by print roll 64 during this operation, yarn formed in these helices has the same physical properties as yarn placed in the main package and therefore is available and satisfactory for use as a transfer tail.

At the conclusion of the right-hand, tail-winding sequence, the operator pushes lever 69 to cock slide bar 20. Tail Winder 1 can then be rotated about the axis of shaft 4, up and away from the proximity of yarn lines 36 and 37 as they are being wound on their normal packages, and repositioned for a left-hand, tail-winding sequence, i.e., into position for Winding tails on empty package supports 47, 48 through auxiliary guides 80. Winder 1 can then be removed from the windup and transported to another location.

As an alternate embodiment, it is obvious that the radio transmitter and receiver may be removed and replaced by a plug-in cable connecting controller 2 and relay 23 in winder 1. This embodiment is used and operates in the same manner as the one previously described. It is equally as effective but has the slight disadvantage of being more difficult to maneuver, because of the cable,

when it is desired to transport the device from one windup to another.

The preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, 5 has a yarn controller 73 which includes a fixed bar 74 to which wires 75 are attached; the latter are shaped and arrange-d to form two deep narrow slots 76 and 77 which are axially displaced slightly from the stringup grooves in yarn supports 43', 44 outside of the package area.

As shown in FIG. 5, tail-winding mechanism 1 has a slide bar operatively connected to one end of a coupler rod 79 which projects outwardly through an open ing in the end of housing 3 into handgrip 6 and is attached to one end of spring 24'. A sear 21' is fixedly attached to rod 79. The other end of spring 24 is anchored to an adjustable block 68. Bar 20' is held in the illustrated ready position by a pawl 22' wich is pivotally mounted on a pin 81 and urged against sear 21' by a compression spring 82. For the release of sear 21 and bar 20', there is a push rod 83 having a clevis-like end which engages a short protuberance on pawl 22'. Spring 82 is kept under compression by a stop ring 84 on rod 83. Movement of bar 20' responsive to the action of spring 24 is controlled by a dashpot including a cylinder 85 which is open at one end and provided at its other end with an adjustable orifice 86. The dashpot cylinder is held in a stationary support 88 and receives a piston 89 which is connected to slide bar 20' by a pin 90. As bar 20 moves responsive to the action of spring 24, piston 89 moves out of cylinder 85. The effective size of orifice 86 depends on the position of an adjustment screw 91. In this manner, the speed with which bar 20' moves and, therefore, the lentgh of a transfer tail can be further controlled and regulated. To cushion the stroke of bar 20, there is a spring loaded detent 92 at the handle end of the housing 3.

In operation of this embodiment, yarn lines 36', 37 are manipulated by means of stringup gun 41' and a stringup tool, not shown, through recesses 13 in guides 8, around print roll 64 and are threaded into narrow stationary slots 76, 77 in such a manner that the yarn lines actually contact the surfaces of yarn supports 43', 44' axially outside the stringup grooves. When this has been accomplished and with yarn running at normal speed and tension, the operator pushes in on rod 83 against the bias of spring 82. Pawl 22 pivots about pin 81 to unlatch sear 21' and to thereby release bar 20 for sliding movement responsive to the action of spring 24'. Movement of bar 20' toward detent 92 rotates guides 8' in the manner previously described. This rotation of guides 8' first shifts the yarn lines into the stringup grooves which initiate winding around the yarn supports after snapping each yarn free from stringup gun 41 and controller 73. This is arranged to occur when guides 8' are only partly through their pivotal stroke. The remainder of the pivotal stroke of guides 8 serves to form a short helical winding on each yarn package support just inside the stringup grooves and to then release yarns 36', 37' for movement toward traverse guides 62, 63' in the manner previously described. Bar 20 is reset by pushing sear 21 toward housing 3' until it has overridden and latched onto pawl 22.

The mechanism disclosed herein makes possible the formation, in single layered helices, of transfer tails of uniform, selectable length from yarn having properties equal to those of yarn in the main package. In addition, the tail-winding mechanism is operable at very high speeds and for a wide variety of yarn deniers. The length of the transfer tail is adjustable by changing either the force exerted by the spring which operates the slide bar or by changing the retarding force or inertia of various moving parts including the rotating auxiliary guides. In the preferred embodiment, tail length can also be regulated by adjustment of the dashpot at screw 91. Furthermore, the mechanism is light in weight, reliable, portable and can be mounted centrally over the windup. A further advantage lies in the fact that essentially no waste bunch of yarn is wound. Finally, the mechanism can be used readily in the simultaneous stringup of more than one yarn end which enables the subsequent simultaneous doffing of equal size tandem packages.

Instead of the illustrated coil springs, other motive means could be employed, e.g., a Neg'ator constant force extension spring (Hunter Spring Division, Ametak, Inc.). Other modifications and adaptations of a similar nature will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departure from the inventive concept which accordingly is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a windup including a surface driven, tubular package support provided with a stringup groove extend ing partially through its circumference outside the normal stroke of a self-threading, traverse guide through which yarn advances as a package is wound, a transfer tail-winding mechanism comprising: an auxiliary guide through which yarn is initially advanced, said groove being adapted to snag the yarn, thereby initiating a package; means mounting said auxiliary guide for pivotal movement from a first stringup position to a second position in which advancing yarn is released to said tra verse guide; a linkage connected to the auxiliary guide for its pivotal movement between said positions; a releasable latch normally in engagement with said linkage for holding the auxiliary guide in its first position; and motive means coupled with said linkage for pivotal movement of the auxiliary guide toward the second position upon release of said latch, said linkage including relatively movable, frictionally engaged parts interposed between said auxiliary guide and said motive means whereby to retard said pivotal movement as a transfer tail of predetermined length is wound in a single layer between said groove and the package area.

2. The windup of claim 1 wherein said motive means is a spring.

3. The windup of claim 2 wherein said auxiliary guide is a plate element having a yarn-receiving recess in one of its edges and wherein the pivotal axis of said mounting means is substantially normal to both the plate element and the rotational axis of the package support and is spaced from said edge, said recess being proximally aligned with said groove when the plate element is in said first position and opening toward the traverse guide when the plate element is in said second position.

4. The windup of claim 2 wherein one of said parts is a slide bar having a sear thereon and said latch is a relay-actuated plunger engaging said sear, said spring being connected to the slide bar.

5. The windup of claim 2 wherein a sear is provided on one of said parts and said latch is a manually operable pawl, said spring being connected to said one part.

6. The windup of claim 5 wherein said linkage also includes a slide bar and wherein is provided a dashpot connected to said bar to regulate the pivotal movement of said auxiliary guide toward the second position, said slide bar being connected to said one part.

7. In a windup including a pair of axially aligned, surface driven, tubular, package supports each provided with a stringup groove extending partially through its circumference outside the normal stroke of an associated, self-threading, traverse guide through which yarn advances as a package is wound, a transfer tail-winding mechanism comprising: a support releasably attached to the windup; a pair of auxiliary guides through each of which yarn is advanced prior to stringup, said grooves being adapted to snag the yarns, thereby initiating packages; means mounting each auxiliary guide for pivotal movement on said support from a first stringup position to a second position in which advancing yarn is released to the associated traverse guide; a linkage connected to the auxiliary guides for their pivotal movement between said positions; areleasable latch normally in engagement with said linkage for holding the auxiliary guides in the first position; and a spring means coupled with said linkage for moving the auxiliary guides simultaneously toward the second position upon release of said latch, said linkage including relatively slidable, frictionally engaged parts, interposed between each auxiliary guide and said spring means whereby to retard said pivotal movement as transfer tails of predetermined length are wound in a single layer between the respective grooves and package areas.

8. A windup comprising: a surface driven, tubular, package support provided with a stringup groove extending partially through its circumference outside the package area; a self-threading traverse guide through which yarn advances to said support as a package is wound; an auxiliary guide plate having a recess through which yarn is advanced prior to stringup, said groove being adapted to snag the yarn, thereby initiating a package; means mounting said guide plate for swinging movement from a first stringup position in which said recess is proximally aligned with the groove to a second position in which the yarn is released to said traverse guide; a

linkage connected to the auxiliary guide plate for its swinging movement in its own plane between said positions; a releasable latch normally in engagement with said linkage for holding the auxiliary guide plate in its first position; and spring means coupled with said linkage for swinging the guide plate toward the second position upon release of said latch, said linkage including relatively movable, frictionally engaged parts interposed between the spring means and the guide plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,966,159 7/1934 Beckman.

2,481,031 9/ 1949 McDermott 242-18 2,517,625 8/1950 Bauer et a1 242-18 2,769,299 11/ 1956 Keith.

2,772,054 11/1956 Herele et al. 242-18 2,870,971 1/1959 Keith 242-18 3,065,921 11/1962 Furst 242-18 3,076,614 2/1963 Baer 242-18 3,097,804 7/ 1963 Jackson.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A WINDUP INCLUDING A SURFACE DRIVEN, TUBULAR PACKAGE SUPPORT PROVIDED WITH A STRINGUP GROOVE EXTENDING PARTIALLY THROUGH ITS CIRCUMFERENCE OUTSIDE THE NORMAL STROKE OF A SELF-THREADING, TRAVERSE GUIDE THROUGH WHICH YARN ADVANCES AS A PACKAGE IS WOUND, A TRANSFER TAIL-WINDING MECHANISM COMPRISING: AN AUXILIARY GUIDE THROUGH WHICH YARN IS INITIALLY ADVANCED, SAID GROOVE BEING ADAPTED TO SNAG THE YARN, THEREBY INITIATING A PACKAGE; MEANS MOUNTING SAID AUXILIARY GUIDE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST STRINGUP POSITION TO A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH ADVANCING YARN IS RELEASED TO SAID TRAVERSE GUIDE; A LINKAGE CONNECTED TO THE AUXILIARY GUIDE FOR ITS PIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS; A RELEASABLE LATCH NORMALLY IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LINKAGE FOR HOLDING THE AUXILIARY GUIDE IN ITS FIRST POSITION; AND MOTIVE MEANS COUPLED WITH SAID LINKAGE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE AUXILIARY GUIDE TOWARD THE SECOND POSITION UPON RELEASE OF SAID LATCH, SAID LINKAGE INCLUDING RELATIVELY MOVABLE, FRICTIONALLY ENGAGED PARTS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID AUXILIARY GUIDE AND SAID MOTIVE MEANS WHEREBY TO RETARD SAID PIVOTAL MOVEMENT AS A TRANSFER TAIL OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH IS WOUND IN A SINGLE LAYER BETWEEN SAID GROOVE AND THE PACKAGE AREA. 